Speaking today at the Israeli Cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Netanyahu summarized the status of negotiations with George Mitchell and the
U.S.
On the diplomatic issue, my meeting with [former Senator] Mitchell, contrary to the rumors, stories and reports that I am not responsible for, but I am responsible for what I am telling you now, there are no agreements or decisions; there is an attempt to bridge between the two goals that we would like to hold to and maintain simultaneously:
The first is to launch a peace process, a diplomatic process between us and the Palestinians that will – of course – also include the Arab countries. The second has to do with our desire to see to the minimal existential needs of the settler public. As to this, there are all sorts of attempts to reach an understanding and reduce gaps but we are not there yet.”
Shmuel Rosner, writing in The New Republic, thinks there is an agreement shaping up that will be less than Barack Obama and Mahmoud Abbas wanted, but is “Back to Reality”:
The moment of unrealistic dreams — total freeze, final agreements, and prompt establishment of Palestinian state — has passed. Based on the details of the understanding reached by Netanyahu and Mitchell, it seems that we’re finally returning to the better approach of gradual progress, rather than attempt to achieve too much in one decisive stroke.